A military spouse's take on blooming where you are planted. I continue to pretend I am living on my dream farm while in reality, I live on a military base, gardening in a plot alongside a Navy flightline, with half of my homesteading supplies perpetually packed in boxes and have a habit of being overly involved in every community we live in. I'm a busy mom to 2 boys and a spouse to a Navy sailor soon nearing retirement. I love this chaotic life wouldn't trade it for anything!

right now

May 29, 2013

I got lost in the strawberry field?

Don't I wish! I haven't even been strawberry picking yet, and they are almost done! My apologies for my unexpected hiatus from blogging... I wish I had a legitimate reason for it but it was really a lot of things all bundled up together that resulted in sort of a mommy meltdown. To sum it up without sounding too dismal, I am just completely overwhelmed lately. Hubby is here, then gone, then back again and we never seem to know when until the day arrives. The garden was looking dismal for awhile due to the 6-8 weeks of rain we had, I thought it would never get planted! I wasn't prepared for the toll that early hot flashes and no sleep are taking on me either, I break out in a sweat every 15 minutes like clockwork which means no sleep, ugh! I was really hoping I had a lot more time left where those symptoms are concerned but considering my history of infertility and resulting treatments and surgeries I am really not that surprised, just annoyed! I am now leading 3 dens of Cub Scouts so that is really putting a bit of stress on as well, hubby was my co-leader but with his deployment schedule it was turning out to be a one-girl show. What update would be complete without the house carnage? Yes, we had a pipe burst which left 700 gallons of water under the house and an expensive repair - after hours of course. Our tenant also moved out so we had to find another quickly and paint the whole rental and do needed repairs there which has sucked up every weekend in May. Okay, I think that about covers it! I have kind of felt that I'm losing all the hobbies that bring me joy one by one. Why is it that the stuff that brings stress relief and happiness are the first to go when life gets crazy? My mental well-being I think has suffered a little more that what I let on here but you get the gist of it without 10 pages of venting :)

If my Reader is any indication of how busy running in circles I've been - I am behind 185 blog posts! That's right, I haven't even been able to read your posts and I am so sorry if I have missed any big events in your lives - I plan on starting to catch up tonight after swim team practice. I won't be commenting until I get caught up on my reading since I find myself getting overwhelmed easily these days, but I will definitely be checking in!

Our lovely azaleas are done here in Virginia Beach, but I really wanted to share...

they are always so beautiful here.

Loch went on his annual Math & Science Academy field trip to Washington D.C., this year they went to the National Air and Space Museum. They got to ride on the double decker busses again.

I am finally starting to see some things harvested from the GARDEN!

Below, a mostly fresh picked lettuce BLT (with no T) !

Next evening was pizza night. The lettuce basil is huge this year, that's spinach on the left with the basil on the right. No tomatoes yet of course so we are using up the last of the sun dried tomatoes from last season.

Daddy passing on the pizza skills to Finn...

Spinach and basil & sundried tomato pizza ready for the oven -

Hubs & I had an early anniversary dinner out at a local seafood place this past weekend - of course the kids were with us LOL.

Here, Loch is explaining to us the Masonic symbols on currency and giving us a rundown on the Illuminati - huh? Yep, that was his anniversary gift to us. Who IS this kid?

Softshell Crab is in season and it doesn't last long, only a couple of weeks so here is a glimpse of East Coast tradition - nothing better than eating a sandwich that has legs sticking out of it!

So TODAY is our actual anniversary, and I hope I remember to tell him tonight as we pass each other as he comes home from work and I head out to swim practice - indeed 2 ships passing lately!

If any of you are out there and haven't unsubscribed yet, thank you! :)

And I was just thinking about you! So glad to hear from you - but not glad to hear that you've been under so much stress. Have you considered taking hormones for the hot flashes, et al? Progestrin cream is also helpful, along with some herbal remedies. It is no fun. And it's no fair. I can't believe the size of your lettuce basil! I tried growing some and it was about 1/19th the size of yours. Illuminati? He's sure going to keep y'all on your toes! It's been a very hectic season for everyone and I'm sure no one gave up on you. Even Mama Pea is taking a time out!

To take some stress off you don't bother reading whatever you missed on my blog. I can tell you that nothing new is going on so you can skip that entirely. Ah, the dreaded menopause. Have you tried any herbal remedies? They take about 3 months to come to full affect but I know a few people who have had great success with them. I hope things settle for you and those hot flashes take a hike.

Funny-I was wondering just yesterday what had happened to you. I should have known you had a PLATTER full!Missed your funny sense of humor. Hope you get caught up---haha-that's a joke, by the way. No one EVER does. And hobbies ARE important, so please be sure to STOP and enjoy one!

Hi Erin! Sounds like you definitely need a vacation along with a personal assistant and probably an infusion of cash. Holy smokes! I'm not into hot flashes yet but I do recommend you make sure and get lots of magnesium because with all the stress you have been under your adrenals are going to be going full blast. They need magnesium and most of this country is deficient in magnesium.

That is definitely a full plate of stuff going on! I am sorry that your hot flashes are so spectacular (I prefer to think of mine as "I-am-surfing-the-waves-on-a-tropical-beach," but it doesn't always help). Post when you can, and don't worry about us, except to know that we keep popping in to see whether you are okay.

oh, I am SOOOO glad to hear from you. I figured for a while you were probably overwhelmed, but was getting a little concerned that something bad might have happened (besides, you know, like pipes breaking and stuff). So glad to hear that everybody's ok!

While I never had hot flashes, but rather "warm flushes," my insomnia was awful, especially distressing since I had never had trouble falling asleep, ever. Taking Melatonin and Benedryl together worked wonders for the insomnia, until I began HRT, when the insomnia disappeared pronto, slong with the "driving on expressways and over bridges" anxiety. HRT saved my sanity, and I hope you are able to find a remedy that does likewise for you. Best wishes for you to find a relaxing bit of time for yourself each day, and a good nap.

So glad to hear from you. Seems like things just snowball this time of year. Sorry to hear the *power surges* are starting early. Not so bad in winter but in summer its a bear! A good multi vitamin & extra b's helped me. (I chose notto use HRT's) Our garden was late going in due to rain also and now all the greens are bolting...no maters here yet either!

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WHAT'S MY STORY?

Welcome! I'm a native Minnesota girl, Mom, Navy Veteran as well as a Navy spouse for the past 15 years. I am also a Certified Master Gardener that got the rug pulled out from under me 2 years ago... we transferred from a Virginia home with a huge garden into government quarters with a concrete back yard at our current duty station. Even when I can't garden, I'm dreaming of it. When I'm not getting dirty in the garden, I quilt, organize things, make lists, make more lists, go sailing and volunteer with the high school sailing team my kids are on. Only a couple more years until military retirement, we need a plan!

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Why the blog name?

Military life likes to throw wrenches into plans. Too many years of thinking "I'll start a garden someday"… someday with a bigger house, a nicer yard, climate, etc, etc - I just decided to DO IT and and worry about the logistics later! We are living the oxymoron of homesteading for the mobile military family and pulling it off the best we can. Follow our adventures as we carry our homestead wherever we go!